Guatemala City , Guatemala -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Gunmen who shot dead Facundo Cabral likely did not have the Argentine folk singer as their intended target , said Guatemalan Interior Minister Carlos Menocal .

Cabral , one of Latin America 's best-known folk singers , was killed Saturday on his way to the airport in Guatemala City .

In the car with Cabral was a Nicaraguan businessman , Henry Farina , who was driving , said Menocal .

`` Everything points to that the attack was directed at him -LRB- Farina -RRB- , and not the artist , '' he said . Still , a motive for the shooting remained unclear .

Farina was wounded , but survived the attack . Cabral died , becoming the latest victim in a wave of violence that has rocked the nation ahead of elections .

Guatemalan President Alvaro Colom declared three days of national mourning in honor of the singer .

In Guatemala on a Latin American tour , Cabral , 74 , left his hotel early Saturday morning in a white SUV for an eight-minute ride to the airport .

Gunmen attacked the SUV -- at least 20 bullet holes could be seen on the Range Rover . Nothing was reported stolen from the vehicle , government spokesman Ronaldo Robles said Saturday .

Police found a brown Hyundai Santa Fe nearby containing bullet-proof vests and AK-47 magazines .

Robles and other authorities have said an investigation was underway .

`` You ca n't blame New Yorkers for the death of John Lennon . Just like you ca n't blame Guatemalans for the death of Facundo Cabral , '' said Ernesto Justo Lopez , the Argentine ambassador to Guatemala .

Ironically , Cabral , who said he was inspired by Jesus Christ and Mohandas Gandhi , was recognized in 1996 by the Organization of the United Nations Educational , Scientific and Cultural Organization as a `` World Peace Messenger . ''

Cabral gained fame as a protest singer . His song , `` No Soy De Aqui , Ni Soy De Alla '' -LRB- `` I 'm Not From Here Nor There '' -RRB- was recorded in nine languages by stars including Julio Iglesias and Neil Diamond .

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Shots were directed at the singer 's driver , an official says

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The driver , a Nicaraguan businessman , was wounded

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Argentine folk singer Facundo Cabral was killed Saturday during the same attack

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Gunmen descended on their SUV as the men made their way to the airport